Mesa girls return on top

COSTA MESA — Near the finish line, a competitor got on his knees and called Costa Mesa High senior Antwon Byrd a king.

If Byrd is a ruler of the sprints for the boys’ team, the girls at Costa Mesa are again the track and field queens.

The opposing runner should have bowed to each of the girls Thursday.

The Mustangs claimed their fourth straight league championship, their third in the Orange Coast League after beating Laguna Beach, 158-140, at the finals at Jim Scott Stadium.

Last week, Coach Diane Bjelland watched the Mustangs’ 14-meet league winning streak end because of the Breakers.

This time, Costa Mesa finished strong, reclaiming the top spot. Estancia placed third, followed by Godinez and Calvary Chapel.

“Those girls are amazing,” Bjelland said. “Outstanding.”

The momentum shifted toward Costa Mesa after taking the 4x400-meter relay race. The Mustangs’ team, with Mercedes Gordon, Melissa Townsend, Kaitlin Yamamoto and Shaylen McNulty, placed first in 4 minutes, 22.8 seconds, almost five seconds better than Laguna Beach.

The team looked a lot sharper than the one losing to the Breakers in the regular-season finale on April 29 on the same track.

“They’re different because Melissa did not run in it,” said Bjelland, who replaced Ally Krikorian as the anchor. “We moved [Krikorian] to pole vault. For her not to run [the relay] was hard for her, but she told me, ‘I’ll do anything you need me to do.’ ”

Krikorian scored points for the Mustangs in other events, allowing her to qualify for the CIF Southern Section Division III preliminaries on May 16 at Estancia High in the pole vault and 400.

The first-place finisher in each event automatically advanced to the prelims, while second and third place had to meet the minimum standard in their respective events.

Other Costa Mesa first-place qualifiers included Seu Ieremia in the discus (105 feet, 1 inch) and shot put (34-6), Tatiana Williams in the high jump (5-0), Yamamoto in the pole vault (8-6), and Shelby Herbel in the 100 hurdles (17.7).

From Estancia, Diana Guido was the lone first-place finisher. The senior won the 300 hurdles in 50.2.

Freshman Mariah Chapin advanced in the 400 (second place, 1:02.4), Erika Garcia in the 3,200 (second, 12:16.2) and Melissa Correa in the 800 (third, 2:34.8).

In the finals for the boys, Laguna Beach made it three straight Orange Coast League titles.

The Breakers beat Costa Mesa, 127-83, after the two tied in the regular-season finale last week. Calvary Chapel finished third, followed by Godinez and Estancia.

Byrd won the 100 (11.3) and 200 (23.1) events, and anchored the Mustangs’ 4x400 relay to first place in 3:32.3. Costa Mesa avenged last week’s 4x400 loss to the Breakers.

“I felt good, confident,” Byrd said after recording the second fastest times in the 100 and 200 during Monday’s league prelims. “I just knew I was going to do better than I did [in the prelims].”

Costa Mesa’s other two first-place qualifiers were Jason Rosello in the 800 (2:04.9) and Thomas Guzowski in the shot put (43-4 1/2 ).

Senior Fernando Orozco was Estancia’s lone winner. He claimed the 1,600 with a personal-best time of 4:23, making it three straight years placing first in the event at the league finals.

As for what Orozco planned to do with the medal, he doesn’t have to worry about it.

“My mom keeps them in a cabinet,” Orozco said.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.